Alex Palou solidified his dominant position in the 2024 IndyCar season by claiming his seventh win during the Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend held at Iowa Speedway. This achievement makes Palou the first driver since Al Unser Jr. in 1994 to secure seven victories in the opening 12 races of a season, giving him a commanding lead in the Alex Palou Indycar Power Rankings as the series prepares to head to Ontario for the Honda Dealers Indy Toronto event.
Chevrolet and Honda Split Race Weekend Triumphs at Iowa Speedway
The intense weekend featured two demanding races totaling 550 laps, where Chevrolet drivers swept the podium on Saturday’s Synk 275 powered by Sukup, while Honda responded with a podium sweep in Sunday’s Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup. These performances highlighted the fierce competition between manufacturers as the series transitions into its next chapter at Toronto.
Top Performers Re-emerge in the Power Rankings Ahead of Toronto
Following the Iowa races, three drivers re-enter the Power Rankings, reflecting dynamic shifts based on recent performances. Among the ranked drivers, David Malukas showed resilience after missing the standings post-Mid-Ohio, placing 12th and fourth in the two Iowa races respectively, and marking his fifth top-10 Power Ranking appearance this season, buoyed by a recent runner-up finish in the Indianapolis 500.
Christian Rasmussen impressed in his sophomore season with consistent top-10 finishes on the oval tracks, placing sixth and eighth during the Iowa weekend, making him one of six drivers to manage top-10 placements in both races. Meanwhile, Josef Newgarden dominated significant portions of the Iowa races, leading 304 combined laps and finishing second in Race 1, yet cautions in Race 2 tempered his results, limiting him to a 10th-place finish overall despite showing strong potential.
Consistent Contenders Maintain Positions in Mid-Ranking
Christian Lundgaard bounced back from a disappointing 21st place in the first Iowa race to claim sixth in the second, marking his second top-six finish in three events and adding to a season highlighted by four podiums. Felix Rosenqvist continued to deliver steady performances, securing three top-seven finishes across four recent races, including a second-place result at Road America and sixth in Mid-Ohio, maintaining his standing among the upper tier of competitors.
Kyle Kirkwood Faces Setbacks but Remains in Top Tier
Kyle Kirkwood experienced a challenging weekend after a crash during Saturday practice foreshadowed difficult race results, finishing 26th and 18th in the two Iowa events. Despite this downturn, Kirkwood’s five top-eight finishes and three wins in the last eight races sustain his position within the top five on the Power Rankings.
Rising Star Marcus Armstrong Reaches New Career High
Marcus Armstrong replicated his career-best podium finish by placing third in Iowa Race 2, his second career podium after Detroit earlier this year. Armstrong’s surge from 16th to seventh in the championship points over the last six races, marked by consistently strong top-10 finishes, earned him his highest-ever spot in the Power Rankings.
Scott Dixon Continues Strong Championship Campaign
Scott Dixon sustained his momentum following a victory at Mid-Ohio by finishing second behind teammate Palou at Iowa, contributing to Chip Ganassi Racing’s second 1-2 finish in three events. Dixon’s five consecutive top-10 finishes emphasize his enduring status as a key championship contender throughout the season.
Pato O’Ward’s Breakthrough Victory and Consistent Podium Appearances
Pato O’Ward finally ended a win drought with a triumph in the first Iowa race and backed it up with a respectable fifth-place finish in the second event. With eight top-seven results in nine races, including four podiums, O’Ward’s consistent performances have reinstated him near the top of this season’s Power Rankings, echoing his second-place position last year following Iowa.
Palou’s Historic Run and Its Impact on the Championship Battle
Alex Palou’s seventh victory not only places him in the history books alongside Al Unser Jr. but also establishes a significant points gap, as he enters the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto weekend holding a 129-point lead over O’Ward. With nine top-two finishes so far, Palou’s commanding performance positions him as the frontrunner to contend strongly for the 2024 championship, while the intensity of competition from competitors like Dixon, O’Ward, and Armstrong promises continued excitement in the rounds to come.
“Palou earned his seventh win of the season, which marks the first time since Al Unser Jr. in 1994 that a driver has won seven of the opening 12 races to a season.”
—Provided Source
“He’s surged from 16th to seventh in the points standings over the last six races, earning top-10s in all of them. This is his highest Power Rankings position to date.”
—Provided Source
“O’Ward finally broke through for his first win of the season in Iowa Race 1 and followed it with a solid fifth-place finish in Race 2.”
—Provided Source
“Newgarden led a combined 304 laps at Iowa, including 232 in Race 1 where he finished second.”
—Provided Source